The Darkness Will Follow

Prologue

They've kept me in darkness for so long that I can't remember what daylight looks like. The two men. Ones older than the other, you can tell by the sound of his worn voice. The other is younger, rougher. He handles me carelessly as if I'm a ratty, worn, little kid doll.
I've never actually seen my face. Sometimes when they open the door to the dark place, I can catch a glimpse of what I look like in the window up above in the top of the room. They took me when I was a young girl. I don't know exactly how long ago it was. I have no idea how old I even am.
There's a lady. She is kinder than the two men. She teaches me. In the darkness. But she makes sure that I am not dumb. That I understand things. I don't know if that's good or bad. She makes me wear these headphones. Voices talk through the speakers, whispering stories to me. I do not know how to read, but I know my words. I can talk, which I often do when I'm alone by myself.
I've come to recognize certain sounds and what they mean. Sometimes I hear the moans and groans of the floor above me. I know that the creaks of stairs means that bad things are to come or they are feeding me. Sometimes the younger one hits me. He calls me names, names that I do not recognize. Other sounds, there are good sounds sometimes. Sometimes I will hear the ladies laughter flirting down the stairs and past the tiny cracks in the door. Sometimes I'll hear the old mans laughter. I've never laughed before. Not that I can remember.
I don't remember much.
I remember the day they took me. It was just after dinner. It was dark outside. I remember begging mommy to play outside. I remember her saying that I could play outside until bedtime.
"Stay away from the street," she had said. I should've listened. They were quick. Quicker than I was. I didn't have time to register what was happening. I didn't even have time to scream. The put some sort of rag over my mouth.
Everything has been darkness ever since.